Organic food: buying more safety or just peace of mind? A critical review of the literature.

Abstract

Consumer concern over the quality and safety of conventional food has intensified in recent years, and primarily drives the increasing demand for organically grown food, which is perceived as healthier and safer. Relevant scientific evidence, however, is scarce, while anecdotal reports abound. Although there is an urgent need for information related to health benefits and/or hazards of food products of both origins, generalized conclusions remain tentative in the absence of adequate comparative data. Organic fruits and vegetables can be expected to contain fewer agrochemical residues than conventionally grown alternatives; yet, the significance of this difference is questionable, inasmuch as actual levels of contamination in both types of food are generally well below acceptable limits. Also, some leafy, root, and tuber organic vegetables appear to have lower nitrate content compared with conventional ones, but whether or not dietary nitrate indeed constitutes a threat to human health is a matter of debate. On the other hand, no differences can be identified for environmental contaminants (e.g. cadmium and other heavy metals), which are likely to be present in food from both origins. With respect to other food hazards, such as endogenous plant toxins, biological pesticides and pathogenic microorganisms, available evidence is extremely limited preventing generalized statements. Also, results for mycotoxin contamination in cereal crops are variable and inconclusive; hence, no clear picture emerges. It is difficult, therefore, to weigh the risks, but what should be made clear is that 'organic' does not automatically equal 'safe.' Additional studies in this area of research are warranted. At our present state of knowledge, other factors rather than safety aspects seem to speak in favor of organic food.

Got into an argument with some desis who have been trained to US methods once they got here.. When I said I don't buy organic milk cause its a sham, they all ganged up on me and said cows have holes in their tummy where they are force fed GMO corn and hence it produces 30 litres of milk every day.

I personally do not mind, freaking Organic or regular milk,.. so far, I live and buy in the US, any kind of milk,.. as food and health standards are way higher here and No aaliya-maaliya, Lallu-tappu or Gordhan gaaynja, Gagan-gaanthiya,.. or Gala Gandhi,.. can home-made any products as and when he likes…. and any contaminated / health-hazard milk, and without health organization approval,.. can start selling,…

Organic milk, can stay lot longer ( unlike regular milk or a gallon bottle in summer ) and it has added Vanilla, Choco, Almond flavor many a times, with sweetened and unsweetened,... so drinking cold/hot is equally tasty and good and quality, under the Food standard acceptance. So, why worry ?

The company Silk and Blue Almond Diamond major makes this milk here in the US and via their toll free number, they gives you 1.00 USD coupon for every 0.5 gallon carton, so when it’s on sale,. You get the same milk,… almost at the same price like regular,.. So I buy it very often any and do not think much,…..

Lesser the think is better,… Let say,… they also feed cow the meat dough, left-over of suvvar, chicken, pigs,.. and hotdog’s remainder crap… which they mix in grass-pooda and makes a healthy dough for a cow, mixed with all residue meat so that,. A cow can give more milk,… now,..Where you gonna cry a as a vegetarian,.. ?

Even the nariyeli ka juice ( thx to Pappu for this word ) , the coconut trees standing on bank of any lagoon-pond has many dead fishes at its root and the coconut-water was found rich in Nitrogen which the tree had sucked major from those dead fishes,… where you gonna complain and cry for those non-vegetarian Nariyeli ka juice ?

Got into an argument with some desis who have been trained to US methods once they got here.. When I said I don't buy organic milk cause its a sham, they all ganged up on me and said cows have holes in their tummy where they are force fed GMO corn and hence it produces 30 litres of milk every day.

Well, I have lost this argument with my better half. Have to shell out the extra 5 dollars for a gallon to buy organic But all in all, organic milk (if full-fat and fresh off the farm and stuff) does indeed taste different and better than regular milk. So it is not that bad a waste of money... me thinks.

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"Kisi ne sahi kaha zindagi kutti cheez hai. You live life without a care in the world not realizing that life is building a heavy load of trash that it dumps on you one fine day, breaking your back." - saneless

I thought beer was organic by nature. What can they do to make it unorganic

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"Kisi ne sahi kaha zindagi kutti cheez hai. You live life without a care in the world not realizing that life is building a heavy load of trash that it dumps on you one fine day, breaking your back." - saneless